Solderless connector



FIG.

ATTORNEYS Oct. 27, 1959 B. E. FRANK SOLDERLESS CONNECTOR Filed April 18,1957 United States Patent This invention relates to electricalconnecting devices of a solderless type particularly adapted for use inconnecting wires within outlet boxes or at motors, fixtures,

or temporarily connecting wires as attemporary job sites. Many forms ofsolderless connectors have been proposed for use in connecting wires asin outlet boxes, and a common form of such connector as employed todayinvolves a self threading member which is adapted to be forced on to apair or more of wires to join the latter and cover and protect them fromcontact with the outlet box or other wires. For many reasons it isdiflicult to make an entirely satisfactory connection with this type ofconnector. For example, although these connectors come in various sizesthe wire ends are apt to be twisted in such a way that they have agreater or less size than the optimum for the particular connector beingused. As a result the connector is apt to be too loose or it isdifficult or impossible to force the connector on to the wires. Althoughin most instances a 'satisfactory connection can he made after somemanipulation, valuable time is often lost. Furthermore, use of theheretofore known type of connector is apt to result in'breakage of thebare ends of the cables when they are removed or being replaced. Furtherin removal or replacement the connection is usually loosened.Accordingly an object of my invention is to provide a connector whichovercomes these long recognized disadvantages. Another object of myinvention is to provide a connector which will accommodate itself to thevariations in the thickness of the wires to be connected.

Another disadvantage of "the heretofore commonly used connectors is theinability to visually determine that a proper connection has been made.With the type of solderless connector described above the connector isrun up on to the paired wires and it is assumed that the properelectrical connection is made if the connector is tight. However, it maywell be that the connection is not entirely satisfactory. This may beparticularly true where more than two wires are joined.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the instant inven- A tion is toprovide a connector with which the type of connection which is beingmadecan be determined by visual I inspection.

Another disadvantage of the heretofore known connectors is that often inrunning them up on to the wires the wires are displaced with respect toone another and the connection is improperly made. This is due to thefact that no adjustment can be made once the connectors take a bite onthe wires. A still further object of the instant invention is to providea connector with which of the mechanic in such a manner that they willnot thereafter shift and then applying the final clamping force forobtaining the secure tight joint.

A further object of the invention is to provide a con nector which willinsure secure and positive connection and thus an electrically securejoining of wires.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a connector whichcan be removed and replaced an unlimited number of times without damageto the wires, without loss of strength in the connection, and withoutthe loss of proper wire contact.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connector which willsecurely compressingly grasp and force together the ends of wires to bejoined.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a connector forelectrical wires which embodiesmeans for securely and firmly graspingand connecting the bare ends of wires together with insulating means forprotecting and preserving the resulting connection.

Another object of the invention is to provide a solderless connectingmeans including means permitting the application of wrench like devicesfor firmly joining the bare portions of the wires to be connected,together with an insulating cover member with which the cover memberwill not be damaged due to the application of force in efiecting theconnection.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a connectorembodying wire end receiving means, compression means for securelyuniting the wire ends within the receiving means, and an insulatingcover in the form of separable elements permitting quick and easyjoining of the parts without damage. to the insulator.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a solderlessconnectingmeans having means for eliecting the joint between the wiresas well as insulating means for covering the joint, and means permittingvisual inspection of the joint which is made.

Yet a still further object of the invention is to provide a solderlessconnector means which insures rapid connection of bare wires.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple low costsolderless connector means embodying the above desirable features.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded elevational view partly in section showing aconnector constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevational view showing the elements of Figurel in assembled relationship together with bare ends of wires connectedby the elements.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the elements of Figure 1 showingthem in assembled relationship, and taken in the direction indicated byline 3--3 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a compression member.

As mentioned above, with heretofore known solderless connectors incommon use it is impossible to determine the nature of the juncturewhich is obtained within the solderless connector. Particularly wheremore than two wires are used a weak or poor electrical connection mayresult without the knowledge of the installer as he cannot inspect thenature of the connection. With a device constructed in accordance withthe principles of my invention, however, it is possible to visuallydetermine the type of connection obtained.

A preferred form of such device is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings wherein there is illustrated a connector 10. The connector 10comprises an insulator and housing member 12, a compression member 14,and

a compressor sleeve 16. The compression member 14 is adapted to receivea pair or more of wires to be joined and compress the wires tightlytogether in order to electrically join them. To accomplish this functionthe member 14 is provided with a Wire receiving channel 18 extendinglongitudinally through the compression member and open at both ends.Throughout approximately onehalf the length of the compression member,and channel 18, the compression member is preferably though notnecessarily formed as a rigid element 20. The latter is referred tohereinafter as the base 20. Approximately the remaining one-half of thecompression member is, however, formed of a resilient material andadapted to be forced inwardly of channel 18 to decrease the lateraldimension of the latter and impinge against any Wires or other elementswhich may be in the in channel Within the resilient portion of thechannel. This resilient portion of the channel is termed the compressorportion and is indicated by the character 22. The channel 18 has asmooth bore throughout.

In the preferred form' of the invention illustrated in the drawings thecompressor portion consists of a spring collet. The collet is formed asan extension of base 20 and, preferably these elements are formed as asingle unit. The collet is formed by providing, either by cutting,molding or other methods, a number of slots 24, extending parallel tochannel 18 and completely through the walls of the compressor portion.By so doing a number of spring fingers 26 are created. Since thecompressor portion is formed of resilient material the spring fingerscan be forced inwardly to graps a wire placed in channel 18.

The latter operation is effected through the following features ofconstruction: The compressor portion 22 is tapered exteriorally from itsend 28 to its base 30 and increases in size from end to base. Furtherthe compressor portion is provided with a thread along its taperedexterior leading from its end to its base. This threaded and taperedexterior compressor portion is adapted to cooperate with the compressorsleeve 16. The latter is provided with an interior tapered male thread32 and can be run up into compressor portion 22. The outer end of thecompressor sleeve 16, considering the inner end as the end having thelarger thread diameter, has a port 34 through which wires can projectwhen the elements are assembled as inFigure 2. Further the exterior ofthe compressor sleeve is knurled or otherwise roughened to provide agripping surface. It is apparent that the sleeve 16 can be run up ontothe compression member 14 until the fingers 26 are compressed and thechannel 18 narrowed adjacent the fingers. The sleeve has a lengthsubstantially equal to the length of the compressor portion 22 andapplies uniform compression throughout the length of the compressorportion.

The base 20 is formed with a second exterior thread 36. Preferably thelatter is a stright thread. Further the base, at the end remote from thecompressor portion 22, has a square nut like configuration 38 which canbe readily grasped by a wrench for tightening as hereinafter explained.

The insulator and housing 12 comprises a cap-like member having an openend 40. A tapered chamber 42 leads inwardly from the open end 40 andterminates at the medial threaded portion 44. The latter is threaded soas to engage with the second thread 36. The insulator has a secondchamber 46 inwardly of the threaded portion 44. Chamber 46 is of a sizeto completely receive sleeve 16, and the threads 36 and 44 are sized sothat sleeve 16 can pass through the threaded portion 44.

Figure 2 illustrates the elements in their assembled relationship. Inthis relationship it is seen that a pair of wires are passed upwardlythrough the channel 18 and at least approximately to the end of thecollet spring fingers 26. The compressor sleeve 16 is threadinglymounted on the spring collet, and clampingly forces the spring fingersinwardly until the wires are securely clasped 'gaged with the threadedportion 34 in the insulator housing 12, and the latter. is threaded upon to the threaded portion 36 until it is securely clampingly engagedwith the compression member 14 and compressor sleeve 16.

In initially forming the connection the wires are inserted into thechannel 18 and adjusted therein so that the desired arrangement isachieved and then the sleeve 16 is run up on to the thread on thetapered exterior of the compressor portion 22 until the wires aregrasped sufiiciently to prevent their separation or accidental removalfrom the channel 18. Then the housing 10 is threadingly engaged with thethreads 36 and screwed up on to the base 20 until tight. As this is donethe sleeve 16 will abut against the bottom on the chamber 46. If thewires are then grasped when this has occurred .and the housing isfurther threaded up on to the base 20 the sleeve 16 will be forced tomove further onto the collar resulting in increased compression againstthe wires. A pair of long nosed pliers can be used if desired to graspthe nutlike portion 38, or a blunt instrument can be inserted within thechamber 42 and brought to bear against the nutlike configuration 38, forassistance in threading cap 12 onto base 20. When it is desired toremove the connector or to inspect the connection the housing 12 can berun off the base 20 in the same manner. The smooth bore of channel 18 isof distinct advantage in that it will not lower the strength of thewires as will the common connectors in use today. Further,reestabli'shment of the connection is easily made without difficulty dueto old threads on the wires resulting from previous contact with aconnector. Also the wires, as illustrated inFigure 2, can he slid intothe connector in side by side relation without any twisting.

i If preferred the sleeve 16 and the compression member 14 can be bothgrasped with wrenches prior to the placement of the insulator andhousing member 12 and the wires securely fixed within the collatedportion. Whereafter the housing 12 can then be placed over the assembly.The joint or connection between the wires can be visually inspectedprior to insertion of the compression member and sleeve into thehousing.

It is noted that when completely assembled the sleeve 16 and compressionmember 14 are completely received within the housing member, and thereis thus complete protection. The rigidity and strength of the jointwhich can be achieved with the instant invention surpasses thatheretofore attainable. The simple secure manner of effecting the jointis also an advantage not heretofore realized. With my invention it ispossible to properly locate and secure the wires and then firmly imbedthem within the collar. Further it is possible to accomplish thiswithout damage to the wires and reduction of their cross sectional areaas achieved with the usual type of connector which is threaded ontowires. i

While I have shown and described a preferred form of my invention itwill be understood that many changes in details and form are within'thescope of the invention. Accordingly I claim an exclusive right to allembodiments within the scope of the appended claims. jlclaim:

1.,A solderless connector for connecting electrical wires comprising, incombination a compression member, a compressor sleeve and a housing andinsulator member, said compression member having arelatively rigid baseand a relatively resilient flexible portion connected to said base, achannel extending through said base and said resilient portion, a taperthread provided on the exterior of said resilient portion, said threadbeing concentric with said channel, said compressor sleeve having aninterior taper thread and being adapted to be run up onto the firstmentioned thread to compress said resilient portion and to deform andconstrict said channel adjacentsaid resilient portion, said base havinga sec- 0nd thread formed on the exterior thereof concentric to saidchannel and spaced outwardly from the first mentioned thread and saidresilient portion laterally of said channel, said insulator and housingmember having an open outer end and a chamber, said chamber leadinginwardly from said open end, a threaded portion adjacent the inner endof said chamber, said threaded portion being formed complimentarily tosaid second thread on said base, a second chamber in said housing spacedinwardly of said threaded portion with respect to said open end, saidsecond chamber being of a size to fully receive said sleeve inwardly ofsaid threaded portion in said housing, said threaded portion in saidhousing having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of saidsleeve so that said sleeve can pass through said threaded portion, saidsleeve being received within said inner chamber in said housing withsaid second thread engaged with said thread in said housing, said taperthread on said resilient portion being threadingly engaged with thetaper thread in said sleeve, and said sleeve frictionally engaging saidhousing with said housing being rotatable with respect to said baseportion.

2. A solderless connector comprising, in combination, a compressionmember, said compression member having a base, a spring collet supportedon said base, a channel extending through said compression member andsaid spring collet, said collet being positioned adjacent one end ofsaid channel and forming said end of said channel, said spring collethaving a tapered exterior tapering from the base of said compressionmember toward the opposite end of said member, said tapered exteriorbeing threaded, said collet being formed by spaced fingers separated byslots with said fingers extending away from said base, a sleeve, saidsleeve having an inner tapered thread defining an inner opening andbeing threadingly engaged with said collet, said sleeve being movablethrough relative rotation between said collet and said sleeve downwardlyon said collet to compress said spring fingers inwardly and narrow saidchannel, a housing formed of an insulating material, said housing havingan open end, a chamber leading inwardly from said open end, an innerchamber and a threaded portion intermediate said inner chamber and thefirst mentionedcharnber, said sleeve being received within said innerchamber, said compression member being threadingly engaged with saidthreaded portion on said sleeve, said compression member being rotatablerelativeto said housing for advancement of said compression memberinwardly of said chambers toward the inner end of said inner chamber,said sleeve being of a length such that it impinges against the innerportion of said inner chamber as the compression member is rotated toadvance said compression member inwardly of said housing so as to forcesaid sleeve to rotate relative to said compression member as saidcompression member is advanced inwardly of said housing.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which said compression member has anutlike formation at the end opposite said spring collet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,733,317 Rumble Oct. 29, 1929 2,130,825 Bergan Sept. 30, 1938 2,534,881Schnoeder Dec. 19, 1950 2,788,384 Gay Apr; 9, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS513,245 Great Britain Oct. 6, 1939

